Smile And Say `Cheese'

Cart's Bad Boy Hopes To Shake Image In Wis.

All Paul Tracy could do was shake his head in disgust after watching tape of the CART race from Portland, Ore., two weeks ago.

It wasn't his sixth-place finish causing consternation, but a simple move Michael Andretti made midway through the race.

"He was having a rough race, running 12th or 13th, and he was trying to make a move back into contention," Tracy recalled.

"In the process, he bumped another car's rear wheels and spun him off into the grass. Andretti did it without penalty. If I make the same move, I'm going to get penalized."

For better or worse, Tracy has been pegged as the bad boy of the CART circuit. The Team KOOL Green standout, eighth in the point standings, will put that image on display Sunday at Elkhart Lake, Wis., in the Texaco/Havoline 200 at Road America.

The 200-mile race, consisting of 50 laps on the 4-mile road course, is one of Tracy's favorite stops. He won here in 1993 and held the pole position from 1992-94.

"We've already tested there and run very well," Tracy said. "This is a great road track, but you have to pace yourself carefully. If you pit at the wrong time, it's a long way before you can come in again."

Tracy's 1999 campaign has been much kinder than 1998's. He has four top-five finishes, including three straight, and he won at Milwaukee on June 6.

Now Tracy is gunning for a Wisconsin sweep, and it would be nice--his wife, Liisa, hails from the small Wisconsin town of Crivitz.

"I'll have a lot of family out there, just like I did in Milwaukee," Tracy said. "It's nice to have their support, nice to know they are there. But it's tough because I can't spend much time with them. Our focus is almost completely on the race."

By his own admission, Tracy becomes a different man once he gets behind the wheel. The good-natured, easygoing 30-year-old is transformed into a fiery, win-at-all-costs competitor.

He earned the first race ban in CART history when he was suspended for the opening race of 1999 in Miami for three violations at the Honda Indy in Australia in October 1998.

CART chief steward Wally Dallenbach cited Tracy for blocking, unjustifiable risk and unsportsmanlike conduct for his part in an incident involving contact with Andretti. Tracy's perceived reckless driving had already cost him a fine and put him on probation following earlier 1998 incidents at Long Beach, Rio, Gateway and Detroit.

"Paul's block on Michael resulted in contact at about 180 miles per hour," Dallenbach said at the time of the suspension. "We are fortunate that it did not result in a more severe consequence."

Tracy does not thrive on his rebel image. In response to the suspension, he wrote an open letter to his fans and other racers, taking responsibility for his moves but also explaining them. And he approached the 1999 schedule with a more conservative racing plan.

"We had some bad luck right after the suspension and exited some races early, so my goal has been consistency," Tracy said. "I'm trying to win every race, but I'm also looking to build up my point total as the season progresses. To do that, you can't knock yourself out."

A little of the old Tracy might reappear at Road America as success feeds his confidence. But he's looking for victories, not trouble.

Tracy rather would be known as an "honorary Cheesehead," with his second Wisconsin title of 1999, instead of the "Captain Crunch" nickname he earned last season. With his controversial driving, it's not his choice of breakfast cereal.